A Cavalcade of Classic Toys

I played with toys throughout my childhood and my children’s childhood. I worked in the toy industry for a few years, so I have a warm place in my heart for toys.

I was lucky to grow up in what has to be considered the golden age of toys. Never before or since have so many enduring classics been developed and produced by the nation’s toy companies.

The annual Sears Wish Book was a treasure trove of exciting new products whenever it arrived. In my era, that day was a red letter day. It was a day to spend circling toys and dog-earing pages.

Toys have changed, electronics and video games rule what’s left of the industry. Most of the old time toy companies have gone belly up or been gobbled up by other toy companies. Some, slowly petered out as they desperately searched for the next big thing before their time ran out.

Many of these are still in production, albeit in a slightly updated form, but some are gone, and probably gone forever.

I have fond memories of nearly all of these toys. I can still feel the frustration of doing a beautiful Spirograph and making a mistake right at the very end. I can vividly recall getting my first Hot Wheels cars and I could recreate my favorite track layouts right now (The one that started on the roof of the garage was awesome).

Those were the days.

Of course, someday, someone else is going to have the same warm and fuzzy feeling about Call of Duty #17…as hard as that might be to imagine.